Hospitals (secondary and specialist care) draft v0.6
CQC's draft hospital framework: 26 proposed KLOEs.
The same five key questions, with 26 key lines of enquiry for secondary and specialist hospital care. Every question, topic area and rating characteristic below is CQC's draft wording.
Draft, not the current assessment framework
This is CQC's secondary and specialist hospital care draft v0.6, published March 2026. The current quality statements remain in use while CQC pilots and evaluates the proposed frameworks.
Search the secondary and specialist hospital care KLOEs
Showing 26 of 26
- SafeKLOE 1Safety cultureIs there a positive and equitable safety culture, where risks are proactively managed, concerns are listened to, incidents are thoroughly investigated, and lessons are learned to improve care?
- SafeKLOE 2Managing risks during care and treatmentIs care for each individual person planned and monitored to identify and manage risks, emergencies, and deterioration?
- SafeKLOE 3Safe systems, pathways and transitionsAre there systems to enable collaborative working across care pathways and services, to ensure that safety and continuity of care are prioritised?
- SafeKLOE 4SafeguardingAre there systems and processes in place to safeguard people from abuse and improper treatment and support their right to live safely?
- SafeKLOE 5Safe environments and infection, prevention and controlAre the premises and equipment suitable and safe for delivering care, and are potential risks within the care environment detected and managed appropriately to keep people and staff safe?
- SafeKLOE 6Safe staffingAre there enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to keep people safe and meet their needs, with strategies to manage demand and capacity safely?
- SafeKLOE 7Safe delivery of medicines and treatmentsAre medicines and treatments delivered safely and in a timely way, in line with people's needs and preferences?
- EffectiveKLOE 1Assessing needsAre people’s needs holistically assessed and reviewed with them to maximise the effectiveness of their care, treatment and support?
- EffectiveKLOE 2Delivering evidence-based care and treatmentIs care and treatment delivered in line with current legislation, standards, evidence-based guidance and good practice?
- EffectiveKLOE 3OutcomesDoes the service monitor outcomes and compare performance to improve the effectiveness of care for all?
- EffectiveKLOE 4Supporting people to live healthier livesAre people supported to manage their own health and wellbeing?
- EffectiveKLOE 5Consent to care and treatmentAre people supported to understand and exercise their right to consent to care and treatment?
- CaringKLOE 1Kindness, compassion and dignityAre people treated with kindness, empathy, compassion and respect, and is their privacy and dignity maintained?
- CaringKLOE 2Person-centred careIs care and treatment delivered in a person-centred way?
- CaringKLOE 3Independence, choice, and controlAre people empowered to maintain their independence and to make choices about their care and plans for their future, where they are able to?
- ResponsiveKLOE 1Care provision, integration, and continuityIs care co-ordinated and delivered in a flexible, joined-up way that reflects diverse needs and promotes choice and continuity?
- ResponsiveKLOE 2Listening and responding to feedbackAre people supported to give feedback and raise concerns, and are they confident that action will be taken as a result?
- ResponsiveKLOE 3Timely and equitable accessDoes the service ensure that everyone can access equitable and timely care, treatment and support?
- ResponsiveKLOE 4Equity in experienceDoes the service tailor people's care, treatment and support effectively, to ensure equity in experience?
- Well-ledKLOE 1Strategic directionIs there a clear vision and strategy that addresses the changing needs of the population and communities it serves?
- Well-ledKLOE 2Workforce equity and cultureIs there an inclusive and fair culture that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of staff, supports speaking up and addresses workforce inequalities?
- Well-ledKLOE 3Capable and compassionate leadersDo leaders at all levels have the capacity and capability to deliver high-quality care effectively, with accountability and empathy?
- Well-ledKLOE 4GovernanceAre there clear roles, responsibilities and systems of accountability to support good governance?
- Well-ledKLOE 5Management of risk, performance and issuesAre there clear and effective processes for managing risks, performance, and issues?
- Well-ledKLOE 6Partnerships and communitiesIs the service working effectively with its population and partners to deliver high quality care and treatment that meet the diverse needs of the people who use them?
- Well-ledKLOE 7Improvement, innovation and learningAre there effective systems that enable continuous improvement, innovation and learning to drive high-quality, sustainable services?
Working across sectors? Compare these KLOEs with the other three drafts in the cross-sector KLOE explorer.
See our sources and update method.
Source: CQC, Hospitals (secondary and specialist care) assessment framework, draft v0.6, 19 March 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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